[Cars] Norway on track to be first to go all-electric
[Cars] Norway on track to be first to go all-electric
Nine in 10 new cars in the country are now battery-powered, and it aims to hit 100% later this year.
"Norway is the world leader when it comes to the take up of electric cars, which last year accounted for nine out of 10 new vehicles sold in the country."
How are they doing on developing public transportation infrastructure, though? That is going to be far more impactful longterm, and is the only way to build a sustainable transportation network.
When I went to Oslo I only took public transport.
I even used to to take the bus to the forest. I walked into the bush for hours then slept. Decided I couldn't be bothered walking back. Checked my paper map and walked into a one road town/suburb and took the bus back. That's how much faith I had that some random place would have a regular bus going to the city centre.
Trains in Nordic have been electric for a generation, starting from 60's.
Busses have been mostly electric in my knowledge about 10 years, I think most of them are ran by electric motor, which is charged with diesel if batteries run out.
Trams and metros have been electric for last 100 years.
Not surprising. Norway seems to be driving a lot of development away from excess energy use and oil. Not only in transportation, but also in real estate.
I know little of all projects there, but what I do know makes me want to go there and learn how to do better. When (not if) electric uptake nears 100%, like in Norway, things will start to happen in the market. Petrol stations, refineries etc. will see a very different demand, which will propel much needed change!
The only reason Norway can afford electric cars is because of the wealth that comes from its oil and gas industry. This is why Norweigans who can afford to buy new cars can also afford electric cars.
So ... yay?
Not really. They have a very simple tax device that ensures EVs are cheaper than thermal cars. China has put in place something similar. It is not a rich country thing. It is about being serious about its transition
The real reason is because they have taxed the shit out of ICE's and EVs was exempt from a lot of taxes.
So for a lot of people, it really only makes sense to buy an EV because it is so much cheaper.
That's a load of bullshit, how is money going to a pension fund making the people richer when no money was withdrawn from it until 2016 even though it has existed since 1990?
They have a flat taxation rate of 22% with sales taxes at 25%. Compare that to the US with billionaires paying no taxes at all...
Money is taken from the sovreign wealth fund every year. However, it is not taken from the savings, but from interest. A maximum of 3% of the funds value can enter the budget, as decided by the budgetary rule.
Oil also makes people richer because it provides industry and jobs.
However, the reason people can afford electric vehicles is that they are excempt from value-added tax. VAT on new cars is quite high in Norway, so if this shaves $40 000 off the price of a new car it obviously makes them more lucrative by comparison.
It's a political decision, it's not that all Norwegians walk around with fuck you money and buy the most expensive cars on the market just for fun.